Collapsible box.



A. H. WILSON. GOLLAPSIBLB BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAB..28,1912.

v Patented June 3, 1913.

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ALLISON I-I. WILSON, OF HAMILTON, OHIO.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1913.

Application filed March 28, 1912. Serial No. 686,824.

To all whom 2'75 may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLISON H. VVILsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Collapsible Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible boxes of the class adapted to contain articles of millinery or to be used for other suitable purposes, and the objects of my improvement are to construct a rectangular box of a single sheet of pasteboard or other suitable material by means of corner folds; to provide inwardly projecting flanges for stiffening the top edges of the box; to provide a draw cord so arranged as to serve for simultaneously pulling the walls and also the top flanges into the erected position, and to provide simple and durable construction with facility of operation and which is peculiarly efficient for the purposes intended. These objects may be at tained in the following described manner as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometrical view of a rectangular collapsible box embodying my improvement; Fig. 2 a plan of the box in the collapsed position and showing by the external dotted lines the pattern or form of the sheet of material from which it may be constructed; Figs. 3 and 4t respective sections of an erected box on the lines aa and Z Z of Fig. 2; Figs. 5 and 6, details showing the folds of the flanges and of the corners.

In the drawings, 1 represents the bottom of the box, 2 and 3 the side walls arranged to fold thereover, and d the corners adapted to fold inwardly on the diagonal lines 5. Each corner may be secured to the middle portion of the corresponding end walls 6 and 7 by means of paper fasteners or cotters inserted through holes 8 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 or by other suitable means. When the side walls are unfolded outwardly to a perpendicular position in relation to the bottom, as shown in Fig. 8, the end walls may be simultaneously folded inwardly on the dotted lines 9 and 11, shown in Fig. 2, to the same perpendicular position as shown in Fig. 4:.

The flanges 12 may be folded on the dotted lines 13, shown in Fig. 2, to contact with the inner surface of the side walls on which they are formed. The projecting end portions 14: of said flanges may be turned under 011 the dotted diagonal lines 15 and secured by means of cotters to the adjacent wall of the corresponding corners as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The side flanges 16 on the lid 10 may be folded in contact with its under side and have their projecting front ends in like manner folded under and secured to the front flap 17 of the lid as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The extension 18 on the front edge of the lid may be foldedbver the flap 17 and secured thereto by cotters through the holes 19. When the front flap 17 is turned inwardly to a perpendicular position the side flanges 16 may be simultaneously turned outwardly to a corresponding position. A folding flange 21 is formed on the edge of the front wall 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The ends of a cord 22 may be passed inwardly through a hole 23 formed in the rear wall 7 and thence respectively returned through the marginal holes 24; thence passed around the rear corners in a forward direction and inwardly through the holes 25 in the side walls. Said ends are thence extended between the side walls and the flanges thereon and outwardly through openings 26 formed through the front portion of said flanges and thence secured to opposite ends of the front wall flange 21 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In operation, the box may be collapsed into the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 2 and the lid may be folded thereon if desired. In this position the boxes may be packed closely together in a small space for shipping or for'being stored. To erect the box ready for use the cord may be pulled outwardly through the central opening in the rear wall whereby the side walls and the end walls may be raised simultaneously into a perpendicular position in relation to the bottom, with the front wall flange perpendicular to said wall. The flanges on the side walls may be caused to automatically unfold inwardly perpendicular thereto with the front wall flange overlapping their ends as shown in Fig. 1 for preventing the side walls from being buckled out of line and for limiting the movement of the cord. After the box is erected in this manner the cord may be secured to a cleat 27 attached to the rear end wall for maintaining the box in the erected position. The marginal flanges on the lid may be unfolded by hand for inclosing the top edges of the front and side walls when the lid is closed thereon.

The wall flanges serve to keep the box from spreading at the top and to materially add to its durability and utility.

Having fully described my improvement, what I claim as my invent-ion and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A collapsible box comprising a single sheet of suitable material and creased to form a rectangular bottom, encircling walls, folding corners, and flanges on two of the opposing walls, the ends of said flanges being folded and secured to the adjacent corners, and a draw cord movably engaging with the walls and the flanges for moving and maintaining the walls perpendicular to and the flanges parallel with the bottom.

2. A collapsible box comprising a rectangular bottom, four walls extending therefrom, corner folds connecting adjacent walls, flanges extending from two opposite walls and having their ends folded and secured to adjacent corners in such manner that when the box is being collapsed or erected said flanges will be automatically folded toward or unfolded to a perpendicular position from the inner sides of the said corresponding walls.

3. A collapsible box comprising a rectangular bottom, four walls extending therefrom and alternately adapted to fold outwardly and inwardly, folding corners connecting the ends of adjacent walls and seoured to the middle portion of the outwardly folding walls, flanges extended from the inwardly folding walls and having their ends folded and secured to adjacent corners in such manner that when the box is being collapsed or erected the flanges will be automatically folded toward or unfolded from the inner face of the respective said walls, and an erecting cord secured to one of the outwardly folding walls and movable through apertures in the other walls for simultaneously moving said walls into an erected position.

ALLISON H. WILSON. lVitnesses II. L. KRAUTH, R. S. CARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

